Research

29 ABR 2018

Mobile and sustainable shelter for urban nomads

This research proposes a mobile city caravan to give answers to the needs of the people that cannot afford to buy a house or an apartment, even temporarily, and introduce an important part of sustainability using cork and bamboo.

Cities around the world are growing fast and some without proper organisation and urban planning. The number of people who, by choice or forced by economic or social conditions, are forced to live in big cities without a permanent home is increasing. Rural unemployment and temporary works requires that a significant number of people need to live in the city, sometimes for short periods of time. The gig economy refers to the growing number of people abandoning traditional 9 to 5 office hours in favour of undertaking freelance work. An unwanted appropriation of public spaces and its negative impact in urban environment, and consequent social and economic impact on the community, is having a huge effect in some cities.

Habitability and functionality principles, that embrace the design ideas developed through requirements as health and safety, mobility, multifunctionality and connection. Moreover, develops concepts as belonging, connection, engagement with community and design friendly with urban environment. This research follows a preliminary study, for urban mobile shelters and opens new areas of research to use materials that could help developing countries using their local materials with economic solutions.